Five hundred women took part in The Big Swim today on Brighton beach, marking International Women’s Day, which took place last week.
Swimmers gathered by Sea Lanes from around midday, as the colourful and lively atmosphere built up in anticipation of the swim.
Event organiser Nicky Chisholm, centre, as goes by Pink Nicky (Image: The Argus)
After warming up by dancing to the Bee Gees’ iconic tune More Than a Woman, participants lined up for a massive group photo just after 1pm.
A conch shell was blown ceremoniously to honour Mother Nature, as part of an “ocean offering”, and then the mad dash into the Sussex sea began.
Now in its fourth year, the annual event is organised by Brighton adventurer Nicky Chisholm, also known as Pink Nicky
The blowing of a conch shell got the swim underway this year (Image: The Argus)
The swim looks to unite women and celebrate the power of community, adventure, and female resilience.
The event also partnered with charity Surfers Against Sewage this year, who are calling for radical reform in the water industry.
There were some weird and wonderful costumes on display (Image: The Argus)
This year, The Big Swim also welcomed its first-ever wheelchair and adaptive swimmers.
Sophie Etheridge was one of those adaptive swimmers, having been invited down from Cambridgeshire to take part.
“Swimming is a laugh, but it’s also freedom”, Sophie said. “My legs don’t work very well. But when I’m in the water, I can move freely. It’s freedom, basically.”
Adaptive athlete Sophie Etheridge, who holds three swimming world records (Image: The Argus)
Participants were encouraged to wear “sparkly” outfits, and they did not disappoint, entering the waters in all manner of eye-catching suits.
There were plenty of sequins, but also no shortage of flamingos, while others dressed as poos in playful protest against water pollution.
It was an undeniably joyous event (Image: The Argus)
Local painter Debbie Lawrence was on the beach with her easel to capture the occasion on an appropriately pink canvas.
“I try to paint as many people as I can”, Debbie said, “but it’s pretty difficult. I wish they would all just stand still!”
Brighton artist Debbie Lawrence was there to paint proceedings (Image: The Argus)
There had been some concerns beforehand that windy weather could scupper the swim, but a more splendid afternoon could not have presented itself, with the spring sunshine beating down on the becalmed sea.
Event organiser Nicky Chisholm said she had spent the previous week “obsessed with sewage, water pollution, wind, and rain”, but was chuffed with the “perfect” conditions on the day
“I’m absolutely delighted”, she said. “It’s a bit feral out here, but it’s beautiful, it’s sparkly. There’s a lot of energy – and a lot of love as well.”
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